Travel to Mexico City, Mexico – Episode 580

Hear about travel to Mexico City as the Amateur Traveler talks to Patrick Muntzinger from GermanBackPacker.com about the city where he lived for 4 months last Spring on a semester abroad.

Patrick says, “Mexico City is just a really diverse and beautiful place to visit. It’s a little bit of a hidden gem I would say because most people if they think about traveling to Mexico they think about all the beach places like Cancun and the whole Riviera Maya. What many people seem to miss is that Mexico City itself has a lot to offer for tourists: a lot of history, a lot of great buildings, great architecture, museums and a lot of fun activities as well. There’s definitely a lot of tourists to discover.”

We start in the historic center of the city where we find the biggest cathedral in Latin America. Also on the main square or zocalo, you can find the National Palace with its wonderful murals by Diego Rivera inside, and the ruins of an Aztec pyramid.

A short walk from the historic center is what may be the most beautiful building in Mexico City: the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) built in a combination of the styles of Neoclassical and Art Nouveau. Stop and see a show or take some time at a nearby cafe with a view of the cityscape.

Further along, you will come to the large green area of Chapultepec which is a large park. In the park, you can find Chapultepec Castle, the zoo, and the world-class Museum of Anthropology. The museum has an amazing collection of artifacts from pre-Columbian times.

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Patrick also recommends a stop in the old neighborhood of Coyoacán. Coyoacan has a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. This church was built on land donated by the Spanish conqueror Cortez whose personal home is nearby. Coyoacan was also home to the artist Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

The Mexican artist Diego Rivera painted these murals in National Palace in the 1920s to celebrate or at least commemorate Mexican history. Rivera was known for his elaborate murals of Mexican History as well as his politics (he was a communist). There are a number of Diego Rivera murals in the U.S. as well (San Francisco, Detroit, and New York City all have some) but his politics made him fairly controversial. His politics were not only controversial to enemies of communism but also got him kicked out of the USSR for “anti-Soviet politics” and subsequently from the Mexican Communist Party.
He also recommends a visit to the canals and boats of Xochimilco. For a day trip, it is hard to beat a trip to Teotihuacan.

For high brow entertainment Patrick recommends a VIP cinema or for a more Mexican evening out the wrestling of Lucho Libre.

Mexico City is a beautiful city with a rich history and great food. So go to the beaches and resorts of Mexico but also come explore its heart in Mexico City.

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Sponsor

This episode of Amateur Travel is sponsored by Context Travel—walking tours for the intellectually curious. By connecting you with local experts across the globe, Context crafts immersive experiences in the world’s great destinations, from Milan to Mexico City. Learn more at contexttravel.com.

Show Notes

GermanBackPacker.com
Mexico City
Historic center of Mexico City
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Zócalo
Templo Mayor
National Palace (Mexico)
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Mercado de Sonora (witchcraft market)
Ciudadela Market
Chapultepec Castle
Chapultepec
Coyoacán
Museo Frida Kahlo
Travel to Mexico City, Mexico – Episode 177
Road Trip in Central Mexico – Episode 564
Xochimilco
Al pastor
Teotihuacan
Road Trip in Central Mexico – Episode 564
Lucha libre
Cinépolis
Cozumel – A Different Mexico
First Conversation in Spanish – Mexico City, Mexico
Backpacking Mexico – All you need to know
Where to Eat in Mexico City
4 Days in Mexico City – The Wonderful Heart of Mexico

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